SCHOOL FOOD ENVIRONMENT
ENACT STRATEGY: Provide Time and Space
Provide enough time and space to eat in a relaxed environment
Beyond providing healthy food options, schools need to focus on additional environmental factors which support healthy eating behaviors. By setting policies and schedules that prioritize adequate time for lunch, schools can create a relaxed environment where students can enjoy their meal with sufficient time for digestion. One promising approach for elementary schools is scheduling recess before lunch so that students are not rushing through lunch to get out on the playground. Research has shown that students come to lunch after recess ready to eat and consume more nutrients. In some high schools where students feel too busy to eat, administrators have passed policies that mandate a lunch break; this sets the tone that eating lunch is a priority. The general comfort and appeal of the eating area are also essential. Beyond taste, the sights, sounds, and smells of the eating area all create the dining environment. With adequate time and an inviting space to eat, students are able to take in more nutrients and incorporate a healthy lunch as an important part of their school day.
Recess Before Lunch (PDF)
A flyer by Colorado’s Action for Healthy Kids on the benefits of a recess before lunch schedule.
Recess Before Lunch Policy in Four Montana Schools (PDF)
Four schools in Montana took part in the recess before lunch policy pilot project and found that the atmosphere in the lunchroom was more relaxed, quiet, and conducive to eating.
The Edible Schoolyard is a cooking and gardening program in Berkeley, California where students participate in classes in the school’s organic garden and the kitchen classroom. The program extends into the dining room where students are encouraged to take the time to relax and enjoy the sensory and social aspects that is part of a healthy meal.
The School Lunch Initiative is a unique collaboration of public and private organizations working to make changes to Berkeley Unified School District’s food policies and practices. The Initiative includes a focus on renovating kitchens and cafeterias to accommodate on-site meal preparation and enhance the dining experience.
Rethinking School Lunch Guide: The Dining Experience (PDF)
This guide outlines key points to consider in creating a dining environment that encourages healthy interaction and healthy eating. It includes a Student Dining Evaluation Form to aid students and staff in pinpointing the aspects of the environment in their cafeteria that need improvement.
Recess Before Lunch Policy Implementation Guide
The Montana Team Nutrition Program found success with their pilot program and created this guide to assist others in implementing a recess before lunch policy.
Berkeley Unified School District Food Policy
This policy outlines that the food served by Berkeley Unified School District has to be nutritious, locally grown, and when possible, organic. Additionally, the policy states that “meals served to students shall be attractively presented in a pleasant environment with sufficient time for eating.”
Busy Students Get A New Required Course: Lunch
This article describes how some high schools are enforcing a mandatory lunch period where no classes are offered and students are encouraged to slow down and take the time to eat a healthy lunch.
in the ENACT Local Policy Database
Children with more time for lunch eat more nutrients
This study found that children who have a 30-minute lunch period consume significantly more food and nutrients, and waste less food than those who have a 20-minute lunch period.
Bergman, E., Buergel, N., Englund, T., Femrite, A. The Relationship Between the Length of the Lunch Period and Nutrient Consumption in the Elementary School Lunch Setting. The Journal of Child Nutrition and Management. Issue 2, Fall 2004.
Children with recess before lunch eat more nutrients (PDF)
This study looked at the impact of recess before lunch compared to recess after lunch on nutrient consumption and plate waste for third through fifth grade students. Students having recess before lunch wasted less food and consumed more vitamins and minerals, with the most noticeable increase in calcium intake.
Bergman, E., Buergel, N., Englund, T., Femrite, A. Relationship of Meal and Recess Schedules to Plate Waste in Elementary Schools. Insight a publication of the National Food Service Management Institute. No. 24, Spring 2004.
How Long Does It Take Students to Eat Lunch? A Summary of Three Studies
Researchers looked at studies on average times that students need to eat lunch and found that students need at least 20 minutes at the table. For most schools this would require a 30 minute lunch period to include travel and purchasing time.
Conklin, M., Lambert, L., Anderson, J. How Long Does It Take Students to Eat Lunch? A Summary of Three Studies. The Journal of Child Nutrition and Management. Issue 1, Spring 2002.